Electronic working will be compulsory for civil legal aid providers from 2010 under plans announced by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) this week.

The commission’s Delivery Transformation programme aims to save £7m a year. It will expand the use of online billing, ensure that all forms and applications for certificates are completed electronically, and create a database of clients.

LSC chief executive Carolyn Regan said: ‘The aim of legal aid reform is to ensure that legal aid remains sustainable for the long term. Delivery Transformation is a key element of this programme and is crucial to making our internal and external processes efficient.’

Roy Morgan, chairman of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, said he welcomed anything that would speed up document processing, but said the change should be piloted and implemented properly to avoid problems that have dogged previous IT schemes.

IT suppliers warned a consultation on the programme that they would need adequate notice of requirements. Hilary Fisher, chairwoman of the Legal Software Suppliers Association’s legal aid committee, said: ‘Unlike with past changes, the LSC needs to give us the proper technical specifications in sufficient time.’